Envelop-opener.



W. N. BURNITE. BNVELOP OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1912.

1,082,400, Patented Dec. 23, 1913.

WITNESSES INVENTOI? ATTORNEYS COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

.NITE, a citizen of the United States, and a UNITED @TATEfi \VILLIAMNEL$QN EURITITE,

( F RIVERI-IEAD, NEW YORK.

ENVELOP-OPENER.

Specification of roseaoo.

Application filed May 10,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM N. BUR- resident of Riverhead, in the countyof Suf folk and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedEnvelop-Opener, of which the following is a full, clear, and eX- actdescription.

This invention relates to stationary articles and particularly todevices for opening envelops or the like by means of a cut ter adaptedto cut a slit closely parallel one of the lateral edges or ends of theenvelop.

Among the objects of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which will be simpler of construction and operation than thoseheretofore usually proposed, and which, because of such simple construction, will be more durable and reliable than usual.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by themechanism hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated inthe drawings accompanying this specification in which like characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in all the views and in whichFigure 1 is a general view indicating the manner of use of the preferredform of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device; Big.3 is a front elevation; Fig. 4t is a transverse section on the line H ofFig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the device isformed.

Referring to the drawings for a specific description of theconstruction, 1 show at 10 a substantially tl-shaped spring sheet metalbody structure, the opposing ends of which constitute or provide theeffective opening or cutting portion of the device. The upper end 11 isshown provided with a knife point or cutter'12, the cutter beingextended through and secured rigidly and permanently in a slot 11 in anyconvenient nanner as by soldering or swaging. Said cutter is arrangedpreferably with its longer axis at an acute angle to the longitudinalaxis of the body 10, or in a plane at right angles to the body, butwhich plane is arranged at an oblique angle to the axis of the body.Adjacent the end 11 there is provided a guide notch 13 of any suitableform and arranged preferably along one edge of the body member.

The opposite or lower end of the body 10, as indicated at 14:, is shownprovided at 15 Letters Patent.

Patented 23,1913.

Serial No. 696,456.

with a soft metal filler disposed immediately below or in line with thepoint of the cutter 12. This filler provides a suitable backing for thecutter in use, whereby it may perform its cutting ope aliens and bemaintained sharp for a long period of time and constant use which wouldbe impossible if said cutter point were permitted to impinge against theharder spring metal structure. Said end 1 1, furthermore, closelyadjacent the filler 15, is slit at 1-1 whereby there is formed aright-angularly extending finger 16 adapted to register with theaforesaid notch 13, guiding the ends in their cooperation during thecutting, and also constituting a guide for the edge of the envelop beingopened, the said edge being adapted to bear against said finger asindicated at E, It will be understood, of course, that the path of thecutter, as indicated ate, Fig. 1, will be comparatively close to theedge of the envelop and said finger 16, whereby it will be practicallyimpossible for the contents of the envelop to be damaged during theopening operation.

As indicated in Fig. 5, the device is preferably formed from a flatblank of sheet metal of substantially uniform thickness, the slot 11,notch 13, and slit 1 1 being formed simultaneously with the operation ofthe die in cutting the blank. The filler 15 may be applied in anyconvenient manner, and, for example, may constitute a drop of solderapplied at the time the cutter 12 is secured in place. The cutter ispreferably constructed of hard steel, and being protected in the mannerset forth, will last practically indefinitely. It is to be noted, also,that the device in its finished form will be neat in appearance and maybe carried readily in the vest pocket or otherwise without danger ofdamage to itself or the person of the one carrying it.

During the operation of opening the envelop, the implement is grasped orheld between the thumb and finger of one hand, while the envelop isbeing held in the other hand, and then the opener is drawn along theedge to be opened in the direction indicated by the arrow marked on theend 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this direction coinciding with thelongitudinal axis of the cutter above referred to. The force of theoperators fingers as applied to the device will be in proportion to thecharacter of the paper being cut, and will be applied, too, in

both directions, the force of the thumb upon the ends 11 being opposedby the force upon the end 1%. The form of said end 14: being thin alongits margin provides that. if it should happen in any particular casethat the slit 6 is not deep enough throughout its length, said edge orpoint of the end let may be inserted into the slit and the device usedin a manner similar to the use of a paper knife or common envelop openerto force the slit entirely open.

The device may be made of any suitable material which will meet therequirements above indicated, and the relative sizes and proportions ofthe parts or features thereof may be modified as found most expedientwithout departing materially from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. An envelop opener, comprising a U- shapedbody of flat spring material, one of the members of the body beingprovided on its inner face adjacent to its end with an inclined slot anda notch in one longitudinal edge in rear of and adjacent to the slot,the other member of the body being provided with a finger struck up fromone longitudinal edge of the member and extending laterally therefromand working loosely in the notch of the other member, said fingerserving as a guide for the members and the edge of the envelop, and acutter secured in said s 0t.

2. A blank for an envelop opener, consisting of a strip of fiat springmetal having adjacent to one end an inclined slot to receive a cutterand in one longitudinal edge adjacent the slot a notch, and havingadjacent to' its other end a longitudinally extending slit leading outthrough the edge of the strip whereby to form a guide finger to engagethe notch when the strip is bent into U-shape.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

XVILLIAM NELSON BURNITE.

WVitnesses JOHN S. HOWE, MARY WILD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing" the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

